Regulator implored to probe Android apps advertising to preschoolers

Several children’s apps on Google’s app store have been found to inappropriately lure youngsters to watch ads or make purchases, according to a pair of consumer groups that cited a new study in calling for an investigation by federal authorities. “Popular apps for preschoolers are rife with marketing,” Josh Golin, executive director of Campaign for …

PayPal, Stripe, GoDaddy and other platforms throw GAB offline

Gab,social media site is being de-platformed and forced offline by its service providers after it became clear that the alleged Pittsburgh shooter Robert Bowers had a history of anti-semitic postings on the site. In the hours following the attack, when the suspect’s postings were discovered on the site, Gab’s corporate partners abandoned it one by …

Rwanda launches world’s first blockchain project to track tantalum mining

Rwanda’s mining boss announced on Tuesday the world’s first blockchain project to track tantalum from the pit-face to the refinery, part of a push to woo investors seeking a conflict-free source of minerals. “Blockchain is one of the technologies that has demonstrated capabilities of providing a more efficient and effective way of delivering traceability for …

New Facebook Portal videochat hardware looks like a privacy disaster waiting to happen

Facebook has released new AI controlled hardware at quite n odd time when its fighting privacy breach allegations. The devices Facebook claims creates a new way to videochat with your Facebook friends. It’s not an app, nor is it some awkward virtual-reality playpen. It’s a device called Portal, and it’s meant to sit in your …

Facebook Glitch prevented users who posted a lot from deleting their accounts

Every few months, there’s a new Facebook scandal that results in a #deletefacebook campaign. According to a new report, there was a bug that inhibited users who had “a large number of posts” from deleting their Facebook accounts. However, after the publication reached out to the social network, an engineer resolved the issue, which was …

New research uncovers over 4,000 malware files often marketed as being useful user software

New  EU-wide research project carried out by the EUIPO has uncovered over 4,000 files containing malware or potentially unwanted programmes from more than 1,000 websites suspected of sharing illegally protected content. The 4 000 malicious files originated from approximately 100 individually developed pieces of malware, often marketed as being useful user software, including fake game …

Facebook faces more sanctions over ‘misleading’ T&Cs EU warns

Brussels has warned Facebook it will face sanctions unless it changes what the European commission calls its “misleading” terms and conditions. The EU commissioner in charge of consumer protection, Věra Jourová, said she had run out of patience with the social network after nearly two years of discussions aimed at giving Facebook’s European users more …